Members News: Our Ex Sky Blue Striker Hits 62 Today. ‘Happy Birthday’, Graham!!

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Birthday Greetings for today are also due to our member Graham Withey. Graham only signed up to CCFPA in 2017 when recruited by CCFPA vice chairman Billy Bell when he visited the Ricoh to watch CCFC’s game against Mansfield Town. A Bristolian, Graham was born on the 11th June 1960 and is therefore celebrating his 62nd birthday today!!

Graham will be remembered by Sky Blues fans as one half of a duo signed from his old home town club Bristol Rovers by new Sky Blue manager (and former striker himself) Bobby Gould. Bobby brought Graham and (now fellow CCFPA member) Nicky Platnauer to Highfield Road from the west country club as part of his substantial team rebuilding following the dismantling of Dave Sexton’s side which survived the 1982-83 Division One season in nineteenth place. Coincidentally Nicky celebrated his birthday yesterday (see also yesterday’s post marking the anniversary)!

‘Harry’ Roberts with Nicky & Graham and Sky Blue fans 1982-83!

The relatively inexperienced Graham cost CCFC £5k in August 1983 having gained less than twenty League outings at Eastville the previous season.  Rovers had signed Graham from non-league Bath City in the summer of 1982 (after spells with Pucklechurch Sports (1976-77) and Welton Rovers (1977-78).

‘Newbie’ Graham Withey with Pete Hormantschuk at LD18

Graham debuted in the second game of the Sky Blues 1983-84 Division One campaign at White Hart Lane and earned his club a 1-1 draw against Tottenham Hotspur with a late strike! Scoring proved less easy in subsequent games and Graham managed a total of four goals in his score of league appearances (half from the bench) though he did get three in the three games against Wolverhampton Wanderers in City’s four game F.A.Cup run!  City again finished nineteenth in Division One. After only a couple of outings the following season Graham moved to Cardiff City in December 1984.

Mike presents Graham with his tie

After that Graham became a bit of a wandering star moving in and out of league football, turning out for Bath City another three times (1985 loan; 1986 and 1990) where he finished his career. He also made appearances for the other Bristol club (1986), Cheltenham Town (1988), Exeter City (1988) and Gloucester City (1989) as well as trying his luck in Australia for a short time at Brisbane City in 1989.

Graham was a Legends Day ‘newbie’ for our 2018 reunion at the Sky Blues last home game of that wonderful promotion season when CCFPA’s Mike Young presented him with his official Association tie (above right).

We hope you have a wonderful day today Graham and look forward to entertaining you back at a Sky Blues game or CCFPA function next season when the Sky Blues are once more playing in the Championship at the CBS Arena!

Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young for sourcing the images

 

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